PSYCH211 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Thermostat, 18 Months, Information Processing Theory
1 Dec 2012
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Assimilation new experiences are readily incorporated into a child"s existing theories. Accommodation when a child"s theories are modified based on experience. Equilibration when disequilibrium occurs, children reorganize their theories to return to a state of equilibrium. Cognitive development driven by equilibration results in formation of mental structures called schemas: shemas are not static (do not stay the same); they are active (continually changing and developing) All children go through these stages (in order); no one can skip stages (although some are faster than others) Sensorimotor stage infant progresses from simple reflex actions to symbolic processing: substage 1: basic reflexes (birth 1 month, substage 2: primary circular reactions (1 4 months) Infant accidentally produces some pleasing event and then tries to recreate it. Ex. sucking thumb: substage 3: secondary circular reactions (4 8 months) Infant accidentally discovers repeated actions that involve an object: substage 4: intentional behaviour (8 12 months) The means of an activity are distinct from the ends.
